Welcome Sierra Club Rocky Mountain Chapter (RMC) new staffer, Matt Reed!
Matt is the RMC's new Conservation Programs Coordinator. You can send
your welcome to him at: matt.reed@sierraclub.org.

Matt Reed is thrilled to return to Colorado and to work with The Sierra Club's RMC. Matt graduated from Gunnison High School on Colorado's Western Slope in 2000, where he developed a passion for wildlife and public lands. He received a law degree from Pace Law School in 2009, with an emphasis on environmental law and policy. He then served as Public Lands Director at High Country Conservation Advocates (formerly High Country Citizens' Alliance) in Crested Butte from 2010 - 2013, where he worked on mining, oil and gas, endangered species, renewable energy and other public lands issues and campaigns. His interests include birding, collecting old books, American history, and hiking and camping with his wife Suzanne.

We're excited to have our second staffer here at the RMC!

"100% awesome!"

Voltarians, as Volt owners have been called within the community, are quite possibly more enthusiastic about their cars than a Prius owner. Voltarian Nikhil B. says the Volt is "90% electric, 10% gas, 100% awesome!" But even more interesting, the driver determines just what percentage of overall driving is electric or gas.

Wildlife like this moose in Middle Boulder Creek will be impacted by Eldora Ski Area's proposed expansion.Photo by Donna Burbank.

Your attention is needed immediately on the proposed expansion of the
Eldora Ski Area. The proposal would expand the area for skiing beyond its
current boundaries, which will impact the Middle Boulder Creek wildlife
corridor and riparian area. The planned expansion will also impact
visitors to the Indian Peaks Wilderness and the Jenny Creek Access
trail.

The U.S. Forest Service has issued its Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) and is accepting comments from the public until April 14. This is the final and most critical time to comment on the proposed expansion.

When people think of Colorado they normally picture our lovely, scenic
mountains. But there is another Colorado—the Colorado of high plains and
short-grass prairie. This other Colorado stands in stark contrast to the
mountains; with the exception of an occasional deep canyon or a dry
creek bed, the land is as flat as a billiard table.

Local control continues to be a topic of discussion across the state. Citizens in Loveland are gearing up for a
special election on July 29 to vote on a two year fracking moratorium –
further information on the election can be found here.
Statewide, groups have submitted language for a local control ballot
initiative and are ramping up their efforts to begin signature collection. One of the local groups, Coloradans for Local
Control has hit the airwaves with a TV ad that can be viewed here.

My wife, Juliette, and I are serious about finding innovative ways to
reduce our carbon footprint. We would like to share what we are doing to
make that happen and encourage others to consider taking these actions
in your life—one of which is car-sharing.

We moved to Boulder in
2001 and have been a one-car family, while using bikes and buses for
additional transportation. Our car, a Toyota Sienna minivan, had to do
everything for us, including pulling our pop-up camper.

Who hasn't felt at sometime that their actions really aren't
important, that your vote is just one of many or too small to count?
Compared to corporations, you write so many letters of protest that
generate only a form letter response. Yet, we persist in the face of
pessimistic moments with the belief that we matter in this democracy.

For perhaps one of only a few times, I know we really made a difference
in the Colorado Legislature this year. It is the kind of difference
where the dots were connected and worked.

As a journalist, I know I'm doing my job when my allies are against me. I
never investigated a story with the idea of proving one thing or
another, or taking someone's side. I may have had a notion of where a
story would go... but generally it was never a straight line. More than
once I drew the ire of those who thought they were talking to me because
they thought I was on their side.

The Sierra Club Pikes Peak National Service Trip, described in the March
Peak and Prairie, has been cancelled. However, work in the Severy Creek
Basin will continue later this summer, possibly in August. For more
information, visit the Rocky Mountain Field Institute (RMFI) website at or e-mail them at rmfi@rmfi.org.

Colorado's Department of Public Health and Environment Air Quality Control Commission (AQCC) finalized a set of air quality regulations
in February that make Colorado the first state in the nation to
regulate methane emissions statewide. The rules were finalized following
five days of public comment and stakeholder testimony that included
many concerned citizens.

Dr. Richard Fleck, right, and Keet Seel at
the Arizona Navajo National Monument. Photo by John D. Sullivan.

Dr. Richard F. Fleck, educator, poet, author and Sierra Club member
since 1994, is inspired by the words of Henry David Thoreau: "Too many a man has lived a life, that when he comes to die, he hasn't lived his life." His own life reflects Thoreau's wisdom.

Connecting to the land through the written word has been Fleck's passion
since he was a U.S. Park Service Ranger naturalist and professor of
creative writing and literature in the 1960s. He continues his passion
for writing and nature on the Front Range with his Hike & Write
outing series for Sierra Club.

It's the 800-lb. elephant in the room, a subject almost no one wants to
talk about—overpopulation. But two dozen or so intrepid, thoughtful and
concerned environmentalists and environmental policy makers, scholars
and analysts have done just that.

In their 2012 anthology, Life on the Brink: Environmentalists Confront Overpopulation (edited by Philip Cafaro, a professor at Colorado State University, and Eileen Crist,
a professor at Virginia Tech), contributors conclude the Earth already
has far too many people who are exceeding our environmentally beneficial
carrying capacity.

Did you know that we have a monthly photo contest? The theme for the April contest is "SPRING." Submit your best spring-y photos today! Winner gets a free Sierra Club photo calendar. Submit your photo now, and tell your friends to LIKE it!

The RMC runs on people-power!

Would you believe that the Sierra Club runs more from volunteer leadership than staff leadership? It's true—there are literally thousands of volunteer leaders in different leadership capacities in 63 chapters and over 400 groups nationwide! Believe it or not, there's only one Rocky Mountain Chapter (RMC) staff person right now—the Director—working with over 150 great volunteer leaders in the chapter and groups. So it's critical that you contact us right away, even if you're only remotely thinking about spending a few hours or more per week helping out the environmental movement in Colorado.

Colorado's environment needs your activism and advocacy—the writing's on the wall! You show up, and we'll train you. There's even a lot of stuff you can do right from home. Doesn't matter where you are in Colorado—we're recruiting for the Chapter, and that covers the entire state. If you're interested, we've got a volunteer role to fit your interests, skills, experience, and knowledge.

If, after reading through the roles below, you're still unsure of where you might fit in, that's no problem. Just fill out the volunteer interest form on our website at http://rmc.sierraclub.org/volunteer.shtml.

Together as an organized movement we will win!

Outings Leaders

Colorado is a hiker's mecca. We're looking to build a core leadership
team to work with our outings leaders, and also looking for several
outings leaders throughout Colorado. Have you ever wanted to lead your
own fun or conservation-minded hikes? Or just get out and enjoy the
outdoors hikes? Winter or summer, Sierra Club is known for great outings
with trained volunteer leaders. Let us train you to be one of them.
We're really excited to get our outings program working directly on
conservation issues, too! Contact Outings Chair Chris Applegate at: cdapplegate@gmail.com.

The
Roaring Fork Group is looking for new and energetic leaders to
volunteer to help out with fighting oil and gas drilling proposals on
the Thompson Divide, west of Carbondale, and south of Glenwood Springs.
The Group is also pursuing Wild and Scenic status for the Crystal
River. You should live within the Roaring Fork Group boundary: Pitkin
County, Eagle County in the Roaring Fork Valley or Fryingpan Valley, or
eastern Garfield County. They're also looking for volunteer leaders
interested in helping lead the Group itself. Get in touch with Mark
Stevens, RFG Executive Committee member, at mark@designprojectinc.com.

What does Wheat Ridge do when its Clear Creek Greenbelt Open Space acquires an infestation of an exotic weed (teasel)? And what does it do when that same wetland harbors an endangered plant and an endangered mouse, both of which could be harmed by spraying herbicides?

The Rocky Mountain Chapter Water Quality and Wetlands Committee has been helping out the city for years by manually removing and reducing the weed population, and we will continue that work in 2014. Our work sessions this year will be:

Saturday, June 7, teasel rosette digging

Saturday, August 2, teasel seedhead removal

Saturday, August 9, teasel seedhead removal

We work from 9:30-11:30 a.m. each day, and then eat lunch in Wheat Ridge. For more information, e-mail Betty Jo Page or call 303-232-9105.

The Water Quality Committee also holds regular meetings and works on other aspects of water quality in Colorado. E-mail Kirk Cunningham or call 303-939-8519 for more information on that aspect of the committee's work.

We'll be meeting this Saturday at 9 a.m. and cleaning along the Cherry Creek for about three hours. We'll split into two groups with one group headed North towards 11th and the other group headed South towards Dakota Ave. We'll meet back at Dazbog between 12:15-12:30. I will be getting materials (trash bags and trash grabbers) from the city's Keep Denver Beautiful Program; however, supplies are on a first-come first-served basis so there might not be enough trash grabbers for everyone. Please bring your own work gloves to protect your hands, wear old clothes that can get super gross, and bring plenty of water, appropriate clothing, and sunscreen. As always, I do not have a cell phone so if you have questions/concerns please contact me no later than 8 a.m. the day of the outing.

I want to make a special note that this work is very physical and exhausting though it is definitely rewarding. Be prepared to work hard.

All outings are limited to 12 people total and children 13 and over are certainly welcome to join with their guardian(s).

Where: 1553 Platte St, Denver, CO (map)We'll be meeting this Saturday at 9am at Paris on the Platte for part 3 of Denver Spring Cleaning and cleaning along the Platte River for about three hours. We'll split into two groups with one group headed North towards 47th Ave. and the other group headed South towards Phil Milstein Park. We'll meet back at Paris on the Platte between 12:15-12:30. I will be getting materials (trash bags and trash grabbers) from the city's Keep Denver Beautiful Program; however, supplies are on a first-come first-served basis so there might not be enough trash grabbers for everyone. Please bring your own work gloves to protect your hands, wear old clothes that can get super gross, and bring plenty of water, appropriate clothing, and sunscreen. As always, I do not have a cell phone so if you have questions/concerns please contact me no later than 8 a.m. the day of the outing.

I want to make a special note that this work is very physical and exhausting though it is definitely rewarding. Be prepared to work hard.

All outings are limited to 12 people total and children 13 and over are certainly welcome to join with their guardian(s).

Let's keep Denver beautiful y'all!For more information, please contact Colleen Finnerty at 303-388-1058. Hope to see you on the trail!

THE "TEN ESSENTIALS" -- The Sierra Club recommends the following be carried at all times when hiking in the backcountry:

OUR RMC WEBSITE HAS OTHER OUTINGS INFO THAT MIGHT BE OF INTEREST -- A Sierra Club Sign-In and Liability Waiver form must be signed before participating in outings -- if you desire to review a copy, please contact your trip leader.